Morphological, chemical and indumentum characteristics of Rhododendron luteum sweet (Ericaceae)

Abstract

This report concens morphological, chemical and indumentum characteristes of Rhododendron luteum Sweet collected from Ordu province. A detailed description of the species has been prepared and compared with that published in the Flora of Turkey of Davis in a tabular form. The description in supported by drawings and original photographs. Chemical composition of the head space odour of the plant material was elucidated. Indumentum characteristics were investigated and their SEM photographs were taken. R. luteum is a deciduous plant growing up to 3-4 m, in North and Eastern Anatolian mountains. It is a posonous plant known as ''Zifin, Sifin, Cifin, Sari{dotless} ormangülü, Egri çiçegi, Sari{dotless} agu''. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, strigose glandular hairs on both surfaces. Flowers are yellow, main odour components were found as ß-caryophyllene (34.0%), methyl benzoate (11.7%), (E)-ß- ocimene (10.4%) and ?-pinene (10.0%).